BlizzConline 2021 Recap
We learned about Shadowlands Patch 9.1: Chains of Domination, Burning Crusade Classic, Forged in the Barrens Hearthstone Expansion, Rogues coming to Diablo IV, Diablo II: Resurrected, and more!

World of Warcraft


Shadowlands Patch 9.1: Chains of Domination
  • Korthia - New section of the Maw with a new art kit, mounts, pets, and more.
  • Sanctum of Domination - New raid with Eye of the Jailer, Tarragrue, Kel'Thuzad, and Sylvanas
  • Tazavesh, the Veiled Market - New eight-boss Mythic mega-dungeon
  • Torghast - New wing, floors, enemies, powers, and art
  • Flying - Unlock flying by completing covenant activities and campaign chapters, earning your Covenant mount
  • Covenant Cosmetic Armor Sets
  • Shadowlands Season 2 - New Mythic+ Affix, Honor Talent refresh, PvP rewards, and more

Burning Crusade Classic
  • Release in 2021 with Beta soon
  • Spell batching is removed
  • Draenei and Blood Elves in pre-patch
  • Current Classic Servers become Progression Servers
  • Choose on a character by character basis to progress with the server or move the character to an Classic Era server.
  • Paid option to make a copy of your character so you can keep it in Classic and move on to Burning Crusade.
  • One paid Level 58 boost per account including a mount, dungeon blues, and limited to Classic races.

World of Warcraft Q&A Panel
  • The faction imbalance has become a social issue that will likely require a social solution and it is a top priority for the team.
  • You cannot fly directly from zone to zone in Shadowlands. You will still need to use the a flight path to enter a zone.
  • Your name will be saved for both server options in Burning Crusade Classic. If there are server connections they will likely play out like in modern WoW having names with servers appended.
  • The team wants to address faction imbalance in BC Classic with small changes such as Paladin seals being available to both factions.
  • There are no plans right now to add more race/class combinations in Shadowlands, but never say never.


Diablo II, Diablo IV, and Diablo Immortal


Diablo IV: What's Next?
  • Rogues can use Swords/Daggers, and Bows/Crossbows
  • Three Specializations - Shadow Realm, Combo Points, Exploit Weakness
  • Rogues can imbue their attacks with different elements like poison or frost
  • More classes will come in the future
  • There are optional PvP areas called Fields of Hatred

Diablo II: Resurrected Deep Dive
  • On PC & consoles with cross-play & cross-progression
  • All cinematics modernized and recreated shot for shot
  • The game will be playable in its original 2D form, like Starcraft Remastered.
  • 8-Player multiplayer

Diablo Immortal: Alpha & Beyond
  • A large variety of ways to progress your character gives players things to do each time they log in
  • The new Paragon system is less linear than in Diablo III, and allows for specialization which can be expanded upon over time
  • Controller support is the most requested thing coming out of Technical Alpha
  • The level cap of Technical Alpha was 45, but release is planned to be 60

BlizzConline Diablo Q&A
  • Resurrected is remaking all cinematics shot-for-shot.
  • For Immortal, they are focusing on the content updates. There is no intention to reset progress like in Diablo III seasons.
  • There will be controller support for D2 on PC.
  • Immortal is focused on the span on time between Diablo II and Diablo III as far as lore goes
  • The level cap of Technical Alpha was 45, but release is planned to be 60


Hearthstone
You can see all of the new Forged in the Barrens cards that have been revealed so far here.


Hearthstone Deep Dive
  • Forged in the Barrens Expansion
  • Spells now have schools
  • Ranked spells grow with you through the game, having different effects on below 5 mana, above 5 mana and at 10 mana
  • New Keyword: Frenzy, first time your minion takes damage and survives, it triggers this effect
  • Core set - 235 cards. Buffed, revived and revolutionized cards as well as new ones. Get the Core set by leveling all your classes to level 10
  • Hearthstone Mercenaries - Tactical RPG and Roguelike type game mode. Single Player progression.

Hearthstone Q&A
  • They would love to do a Murloc Expansion, like they did Dragons. They would have to increase the range of Murloc sizes
  • Core Set is great for new and returning players, due to better quality of the set compared to Basic and Classic and the unlock requirements are low
  • Quests are something they love. They learned a lot from the previous editions. If they do it again it will be with a twist and not the same.
  • They want to do Random Hero Skin and Random Coin, like they have the Random Card back, but don't have a fixed point yet when that is coming, but it IS coming


Overwatch



Behind the Scenes of Overwatch 2
  • New Maps - Rome and New York City
  • Hero Missions - PvE Co-Op Missions
  • Progression - Level up your heroes as you play Hero missions and fill out skill trees
  • More Story
  • Updated Hero appearances


Blizzard Arcade Collection
Blizzard announced the Blizzard Arcade Collection today, a collection of three older games.


  • The Collection includes The Lost Vikings, Rock N Roll Racing, and Blackthorne.
  • The Blizzard Arcade Collection is included as part of The Celebration Collection on PC.
  • Consoles will also be able to play the collection.
  • Players that didn't purchase the Celebration Collection can purchase the Arcade Collection for $20.
  • The games in the Blizzard Arcade Collection come in their Original Editions and also upgraded Definitive Editions, with each version featuring custom key mapping and the ability to rewind up to 10 seconds.
  • The Original Editions of The Lost Vikings and Blackthorne also include “watch mode,” which lets players watch a playthrough of the game and jump in to take control at any point.
  • The ability to save progress anywhere is also included in all versions of each game, with the exception of the Definitive Edition of Rock N Roll Racing.
  • An array of bonus materials rounds out the Blizzard Arcade Collection, including game art, development assets, unused content, lore, interviews, and more


Blizzard Gear Store
Blizzard has put up some new BlizzConline merchandise on the Blizzard Gear Store, all with free shipping. When you purchase through our link it helps support the site. Some interesting items:


This article was originally published in forum thread: BlizzConline 2021 - Day 1 Recap started by chaud View original post
Comments 78 Comments
  1. Cosmic Janitor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Eapoe View Post
    A 6” width doesn’t seem very full sized.
    Yeah, the full size thing seems to me rather questionable, especially given the laughably disproportionate sizes of warcraft humans. Even if it was the inside measurements (incredibly unlikely) then I still wouldn't call that full sized.
  1. probert's Avatar
    its pretty funny, the biggest social media hits are about Diablo 2 Remastered and TBC Classic.

    good news is they seem to be handling them very cautiously and with due respect. i won't pre-order D2-RM until its released and we confirm we don't have another WC3 fiasco, but it looks like they're doing it 'right' this time.

    TBC with #minorchanges seem to be all well thought out and justified. The most egregious might be the l58 character boost, which i really don't mind if it means more active players -- a number of people couldn't stomach the pace of Classic but desperately want to relive TBC.
  1. neik's Avatar
    I enjoyed the day one, Overwatch 2 news was really the highlight of the night for me. Also, the shit that really got my feels is when she got stabbed in a heart. So fucking sad, I really admired her, some rebirth would be nice.
  1. socialmaker's Avatar
    IF the jailer is so powerful that a "vessel" can directly EMP all the Paragons and randomly kill the Archon why isn't he carpetbombing all 4 zones and deliver us from the incredible SHITTY writing those morons at Blizzard are forcefeeding us.
  1. Cosmic Janitor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by neik View Post
    I enjoyed the day one, Overwatch 2 news was really the highlight of the night for me. Also, the shit that really got my feels is when she got stabbed in a heart. So fucking sad, I really admired her, some rebirth would be nice.
    Do you mean the SL Bastion thing? Because I personally thought she is one of the worst charaters of the 4 (despite it being my favorite covenant), including the guy that is literally absent. She is way too aloof and didn't interact at all with the player outside of us saving her useless hide and showing up to bless the pedestal at the very end of the quest chain. The winterqueen at least engages in some tough calls to preserve her realm, Denathrius at least had his swagger, while the Primus has his mystery and cunning legacy. She on the other hand is just there ignoring things until it's too late, demanding alot without showing much herself.
  1. Queendom's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mrgreenthump View Post
    The team that did Warcraft 3 reforged got disbanded and this is the team that did Crash Bandicoot and Tony Hawk's Pro Scater.
    None of this hints that D2R will not repeat the fate of W3R.
  1. neik's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Haidaes View Post
    Do you mean the SL Bastion thing? Because I personally thought she is one of the worst charaters of the 4 (despite it being my favorite covenant), including the guy that is literally absent. She is way too aloof and didn't interact at all with the player outside of us saving her useless hide and showing up to bless the pedestal at the very end of the quest chain. The winterqueen at least engages in some tough calls to preserve her realm, Denathrius at least had his swagger, while the Primus has his mystery and cunning legacy. She on the other hand is just there ignoring things until it's too late, demanding alot without showing much herself.
    I haven't played for couple of months, so I didn't followed any covenant story, nor what's going on in Shadowlands in general. I suppose here might be some drama lurking that I'm completely not aware of, I just have to see it for myself.

    However, the little time I knew her, I felt that she really had a strength that kept me calm. I felt at peace in heavens, now she's gone, and something has changed too. There we go, that's me.

    Thanks for your time.
  1. Alubobz's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Pacster View Post
    Very, very, VERY good question. That would have been a fiasco like 2 years ago with Immortal, I think. Even right now there is not much. All of that is the bare minimum of expectations(like the next patch for Warcraft. I mean, that had to come.). The Arcade stuff would have been a nice give away along the track...but paying for that? ROFL.
    I agree i loved rock and roll racing, used to play it non stop with friends... but not paying for it today. Watching the trailer for TBC made me realise what an actual expansion contained back in the day

    - New Race
    - 2 new starting zones (x2 as they doubled up)
    - 2 new capital cities
    - "Techinically" new class
    - 7 new zones + dungeons
    - New BG
    - New Raids
    - New features
    ------- Introduction of 10 man raiding and 25 man raiding from 40
    ------- Heroic Dungeons
    ------- Flying introduced
    ------- New Profession - Jewel Crafting
    ------- PVP Arena
    ------- Daily quests (*3.1)

    What did we get with Shadowlands

    -5 new zones and dungeons
    -some cosmetic stuff
    -New Raid
  1. Ielenia's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Queendom View Post
    None of this hints that D2R will not repeat the fate of W3R.
    If you want to be that pedantic, then none of that hints that D2R will repeat the fate of W3R. I mean, it's an entire new team. That's like saying you expect your favorite football team to perform the exact same after the coach has fired each and every one of the players in the entire team and replaced them with fresh new players.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Alubobz View Post
    What did we get with Shadowlands

    -5 new zones and dungeons
    Six. Remember the new starting zone?

    -some cosmetic stuff
    "Some"? Way to be dishonest. A ton of cosmetic stuff has been added, on top of brand new different back piece transmogs.

    Not to mention:
    • We got a grand total of 48 new abilities with the covenants, almost an entire class' worth of abilities.
    • Four separate endgame storylines to follow.
    • New race/class combinations in the form of allied races being able to select 'death knight' as their class, or, in your words: "technically a new class".

    Also: "no new features"? What do you think Torghast is?
  1. mrgreenthump's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Queendom View Post
    None of this hints that D2R will not repeat the fate of W3R.
    None of it hints that D2R will repeat the fate of W3R.

    From what I've seen it won't. They won't make classic version unplayable, they'll have the same engine, has quality of life features you can turn off. Duping and botting is likely a lot harder. All I've seen are good things about it, granted will have to get time on it and play it to find out.
  1. Jahaga's Avatar
    I've watched the Diablo II: Resurrected Deep Dive twice and I want to clarify that there was nothing on whether or not there will be cross-play. There will be cross-progression (at least it's planned), meaning if you create a character on PC, you will be able to play it on console as well. This does not mean console players will be able to place with PC players.
  1. Darknessvamp's Avatar
    Welp the only good thing we can take away from this is that they didn't announce more mobile junk and repeat the Immortal fiasco. Oh and TBC classic I guess.
  1. Alubobz's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Ielenia View Post
    If you want to be that pedantic, then none of that hints that D2R will repeat the fate of W3R. I mean, it's an entire new team. That's like saying you expect your favorite football team to perform the exact same after the coach has fired each and every one of the players in the entire team and replaced them with fresh new players.

    - - - Updated - - -


    Six. Remember the new starting zone?


    "Some"? Way to be dishonest. A ton of cosmetic stuff has been added, on top of brand new different back piece transmogs.

    Not to mention:
    • We got a grand total of 48 new abilities with the covenants, almost an entire class' worth of abilities.
    • Four separate endgame storylines to follow.
    • New race/class combinations in the form of allied races being able to select 'death knight' as their class, or, in your words: "technically a new class".

    Also: "no new features"? What do you think Torghast is?
    Fair enough i missed a few things... but still.. its still less than what we had before. I played TBC after classic, i played shadowlands. It makes sense i mean they got to make more money each year to appease shareholders, so it makes sense to produce less over time. Minimal viable product. As long as we all buy up what ever they throw out we will get less and less... i used to love Blizzard even when others slagged them off, but after WC3 reforged i started to see they are just chasing the cash now and not the game... gameplay first is a myth of theirs. C&C remastered was far more impressive and came out around same time.

    I recall waiting for WC3 to come out and it got delayed so so much, i think it was years even! but the finished product was worth it!

    Am i being overly negative? sure.. but its only because a company i invested time and money in for over half my life has let me down a lot recently, its like Metallica, i mean i love them generally speaking, but lets be realistic, they not released a good album in 30 years so i feel i am obligated to call them a bit shit these days.

    The negativity is out of love and not hate, i want them to do well and am powerless these days...
  1. Queendom's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mrgreenthump View Post
    None of it hints that D2R will repeat the fate of W3R.

    From what I've seen it won't. They won't make classic version unplayable, they'll have the same engine, has quality of life features you can turn off. Duping and botting is likely a lot harder. All I've seen are good things about it, granted will have to get time on it and play it to find out.
    I never said it will.
    It's just a matter of how much you trust Blizzard at this point. I don't, and I think most of people who played Warcraft 3 don't.
  1. hulkgor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Devilyaki View Post
    Paid option to make a copy of your character so you can keep it in Classic,.... anyone else feel bad about this, why pay to keep it there.. why can't we have that as a given, oh yes have to bleed every last $$$ out of it. Classic is dead to me, it will never be what it was.
    You pay to have the same char on BOTH. Classic and TBC.

    You can stay in Classic forever, for no extra charge. You just need to pay if you want a duplicate.
  1. mrgreenthump's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Queendom View Post
    I never said it will.
    It's just a matter of how much you trust Blizzard at this point. I don't, and I think most of people who played Warcraft 3 don't.
    I don't trust Blizzard, nor any other game company. Each game is their own launch and experience. Hence bad experience with one doesn't make me think my next experience is bad or good. I will judge the game by it's own merits.. And for what we have to go by now, it doesn't look like they are going at it the wrong way.
  1. GreenJesus's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by mrgreenthump View Post
    The team that did Warcraft 3 reforged got disbanded and this is the team that did Crash Bandicoot and Tony Hawk's Pro Scater.

    And what comes to D4, did anyone realistically expect a release date?! I thought we would maybe see it late 2021 to 2022 earliest when it got announced and now with the varus, everything is probably pushed back by half a year at least. We also probably will get some kind of Blizzcon late this year too. Be it online or live.
    I don't think anyone expected D4 in 2021 or even 2022. It looked like they barely even started development of it and were barely in conceptual phases. I'm expecting late 2022 or early 2023 honestly. And with PoE2 being released before then, blizzard has their work cut out for them.
  1. JDL49's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Wangming View Post
    If I understand correctly it is only for the Maw for now. Because you know, that's the only zone you will be spending any time in.
    You know, considering what a royal PITA that zone is and because I have to get "Cordial" with what'shisname the Maw Guy for every one of my professions I'll happily take Maw Flying as a win, TYVM. Besides, its pretty likely that you will still need a taxi between islands and inter island flying is kind of no big deal. If they reinstituted the flight whistle I would be satisfied to stop right there tbh.
  1. Cosmic Janitor's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by neik View Post
    I haven't played for couple of months, so I didn't followed any covenant story, nor what's going on in Shadowlands in general. I suppose here might be some drama lurking that I'm completely not aware of, I just have to see it for myself.

    However, the little time I knew her, I felt that she really had a strength that kept me calm. I felt at peace in heavens, now she's gone, and something has changed too. There we go, that's me.

    Thanks for your time.
    While that is weird to say the least, you can rest easy considering that the chief story-butcher just confirmed she is still alive doing nothing .
  1. DeltrusDisc's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Haidaes View Post
    Because headsizes are different and helms like those tend to start looking really bad if you just try to make them 1 size fits all. It's also no longer just sculpting at that point, you essentially engineer a product instead if just designing a sculpture. Frankly with 6" width I'm not even sure if anyone other than a toddler can wear it.
    Yeah, it's a shame, honestly. Would be cool if they could figure out some general head sizes and sell a few different sizes. Perhaps this would be more expensive, but we are talking about one of the wealthiest companies in the world here, who are worth more than several countries.

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